Ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus simplifies the electrical connection process by using convex and concave curved surfaces for alignment, enabling efficient power and signal transfer between the device body and cart.

JP2025135772APending Publication Date: 2025-09-19KONICA MINOLTA INC
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2024033724
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-03-06
Publication Date
2025-09-19

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

The ultrasonic diagnostic device requires a two-step operation for electrical connection to a cart, which is cumbersome.

Method used

The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus features a convex curved surface on the device body and a concave curved surface on the cart, allowing for a single-step alignment and connection of terminals for electrical connection.

Benefits of technology

This simplifies the electrical connection process between the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus and the cart, ensuring reliable and stable power and signal transfer.

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Abstract

To provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that facilitates electric connection between an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body and a wagon.SOLUTION: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 includes a body 10 and a cart (wagon) 20 for attaching / detaching the body 10. The body 10 includes a connection terminal 131 for electrically connecting it with the cart 20, and a first surface (one surface) 11 is composed of a convex surface. The cart 20 includes a connected terminal 212 to which the connection terminal 131 is connected, and an inside surface 221 opposed to the first surface 11 when the body 10 is attached is composed of a concave surface corresponding to the convex surface. When the body 10 is attached to the cart 20 so that the convex surface (first surface 11) corresponds to the concave surface (inside surface 221), the connection terminal 131 is connected to the connected terminal 212.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5A
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Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an ultrasound diagnostic apparatus. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, there is known an ultrasonic diagnostic device in which the ultrasonic diagnostic device main body is electrically connected to a dolly. Regarding this ultrasonic diagnostic device, Patent Document 1 below discloses that the ultrasonic diagnostic device main body is positioned on the dolly and then a handle is operated to electrically connect the ultrasonic diagnostic device main body to the dolly. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-57887 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The ultrasonic diagnostic device disclosed in Patent Document 1 has a problem in that electrically connecting the ultrasonic diagnostic device main body and the cart requires two-step operations, namely the positioning operation and the handle operation, which is troublesome.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to simplify the electrical connection between the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body and the dolly. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to the present invention comprises: An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body and a carriage to which the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body can be attached and detached, The ultrasonic diagnostic device main body includes: a connection terminal for electrically connecting to the carriage; One surface is made up of a convex curved surface, The carriage is a connection terminal to which the connection terminal is connected, a surface facing the one surface when the ultrasound diagnostic device body is attached is configured as a concave curved surface corresponding to the convex curved surface, When the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus main body is attached to the cart so that the convex curved surface corresponds to the concave curved surface, the connecting terminal is connected to the connected terminal. It is characterized by: [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, the electrical connection between the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body and the dolly can be simplified. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. [Figure 2A] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a first surface of the ultrasonic diagnostic device main body. [Figure 2B] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a second surface of the ultrasonic diagnostic device main body. [Figure 2C] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the bottom surface of the ultrasound diagnostic device main body. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the cart. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view showing the main body mounting portion of the cart and its surroundings. [Figure 5A] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating a procedure for installing the ultrasound diagnostic device main body. [Figure 5B] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating a procedure for installing the ultrasound diagnostic device main body. [Figure 6] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a first surface of the ultrasound diagnostic device body and an inner surface of a support column of the cart are in contact with each other. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a cart according to a modified example. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a cart according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, but the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and illustrated examples.

[0010] [Configuration of ultrasound diagnostic equipment] First, the configuration of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus 1 according to this embodiment will be described. The ultrasound diagnostic device 1 is installed in an examination room or the like of a medical institution such as a hospital, and is a device that places an ultrasound probe (not shown) that transmits and receives ultrasound on a subject (patient), transmits and receives ultrasound from the ultrasound probe, and generates an ultrasound image from an echo signal corresponding to the echo from the subject. The ultrasound diagnostic device 1 is configured to be portable so that it can be used by users such as doctors and technicians and moved around within a medical institution such as a hospital.

[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of an ultrasonic diagnostic device 1. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, the ultrasound diagnostic device 1 includes an ultrasound diagnostic device main body (hereinafter referred to as the main body) 10 and a cart (cart) 20 that can be used at the user's discretion.

[0012] The main body 10 is a device that transmits drive signals to the ultrasound probe, receives echo signals as electrical signals from the ultrasound probe, and generates ultrasound image data based on the echo signals. The main body 10 can be detached from the cart 20 and carried around. The main body 10 has a configuration that allows the ultrasound probe to be attached and detached. The cart 20 is a movable platform that displays the ultrasound image data generated by the main body 10. The cart 20 has a configuration that allows the main body 10 to be attached and detached.

[0013] [Main unit configuration] Next, the configuration of the main body 10 will be described. Fig. 2A is a perspective view showing a first surface 11 of the main body 10. Fig. 2B is a perspective view showing a second surface 12 of the main body 10. Fig. 2C is a perspective view showing a bottom surface 13 of the main body 10.

[0014] 2A, the first surface 11 is a surface that abuts against an inner surface 221 of a support portion 22 (described later) when the main body 10 is attached to the cart 20. The first surface 11 is configured as a curved convex surface in a plan view. The main body 10 has a grip portion 101 on its top surface that is used when attaching or detaching the main body 10 to or from the cart 20 or when carrying the main body 10. 2B, the second surface 12 is the surface opposite to the first surface 11, and has three connectors 121 arranged side by side for connecting ultrasonic probes. Also, the second surface 12 has a connector 122 for connecting a plug P at the tip of a power cable.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 2C , the bottom surface 13 is a surface that faces the upper surface of the main body mounting unit 21, which will be described later, when the main body 10 is attached to the cart 20. Two connection terminals 131 are disposed on the bottom surface 13, which are electrically connected to the connection terminals 212 provided on the main body mounting unit 21. Here, by electrically connecting the connection terminals 131 to the connection terminals 212, it becomes possible, for example, to input power from the main body 10 to the cart 20 and input image signals related to ultrasound images. It also becomes possible to input operation signals (operation signals based on operation of an operation console 232 (described later)) from the cart 20 to the main body 10. Two positioning holes 132 are formed on the bottom surface 13, into which guide pins 213 provided on the main body mounting unit 21 are inserted. The bottom surface 13 also has a central rectangular fitting area 13a, which includes the connection terminals 131, recessed toward the inside of the main body 10. This rectangular fitting area 13a has a shape that corresponds to the raised main body receiving surface 211 of the main body mounting portion 21 (see FIG. 4).

[0016] [Cart Configuration] Next, a description will be given of the configuration of the cart 20. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the cart 20. Fig. 4 is a partially enlarged view showing the main body mounting portion 21 of the cart 20 and its surroundings.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 3, the cart 20 includes a main body mounting portion 21, a support portion 22, a work table 23, a main body guide portion 24, and a caster portion 25.

[0018] 3 and 4, the main body mounting portion 21 is a base for mounting the main body 10. The main body mounting portion 21 has a main body receiving surface 211 formed thereon, which corresponds to the fitting region 13a of the bottom surface 13 of the main body 10 when the main body 10 is mounted. Two connected terminals 212 to be connected to the respective connection terminals 131 (see FIG. 2C) of the main body 10 are provided on the main body receiving surface 211 at positions corresponding to the respective connection terminals 131. The main body mounting portion 21 also has two guide pins 213 provided between the main body receiving surface 211 and a support portion 22, which will be described later. The guide pins 213 are used to guide the main body 10 so that it is mounted in an appropriate position, and are provided at positions corresponding to the respective positioning holes 132 (see FIG. 2C) of the main body 10.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 3, the support column 22 is erected at an end of the main body mounting portion 21 and supports a workbench 23 connected to the support column 22. Also, as shown in FIG. 4, the support column 22 has an inner surface 221 extending from the end on the main body mounting portion 21 side to a predetermined height (the height of the main body 10) and configured as a concave curved surface recessed toward an outer surface 222 (see FIG. 6). This inner surface 221 faces the first surface 11 (see FIG. 2A) of the main body 10 when the main body 10 is attached to the main body mounting portion 21, and is configured as a concave curved surface that conforms to (corresponds to) the convex curved surface of the first surface 11 (see FIG. 6). Also, the support column 22 has a fixed handle 223 provided at the predetermined height position (the height of the main body 10). The fixed handle 223 is a locking member that presses down on the grip portion 101 of the main body 10 from above to lock it when the main body 10 is attached to the main body mounting portion 21.

[0020] 3, the workbench 23 is a workbench for performing ultrasound diagnosis, and is provided with a display 231 that displays ultrasound image data and the like, an operation console 232 for performing operations related to the display, etc. The workbench 23 is also provided with a movement handle 233 for moving the cart 20 in a desired direction.

[0021] 4, the main body guide portion 24 is a guide wall for guiding the above-mentioned convex curved surface (first surface 11) of the main body 10 along the concave curved surface (inner surface 221) of the support portion 22 when the main body 10 is attached to the main body mounting portion 21. The main body guide portion 24 is formed in a slope shape in which the height of the wall gradually decreases from each of the left and right sides of the support portion 22 along the periphery of the main body mounting portion 21.

[0022] 3, the caster unit 25 includes four legs 251 extending radially from the main body mounting unit 21, and casters 252 provided at the ends of the legs 251. The caster unit 25 can move the cart 20 and the main body 10 attached to the cart 20 in the front-rear and left-right directions by the rotation and swivel of each caster 252.

[0023] [Installation procedure for the ultrasound diagnostic device] Next, the procedure for attaching the main body 10 to the cart 20 will be described. When attaching the main body 10 to the cart 20, first, as shown in Fig. 5A, the first surface 11 of the main body 10 and the inner surface 221 of the support column 22 are brought into contact with each other. Specifically, the first surface 11 and the inner surface 221 are brought into contact with each other so that the convex surface of the first surface 11, which forms a convex curved surface, is aligned with (corresponds to) the concave surface of the inner surface 221, which forms a concave curved surface. At this time, the fixed handle 223 provided on the support column 22 is in a flipped-up state. Next, as shown in Fig. 5B, while the first surface 11 and the inner surface 221 are kept in contact with each other, the main body 10 is placed on the main body mounting portion 21 of the cart 20. At this time, the guide pins 213 of the main body mounting portion 21 are inserted into the positioning holes 132 (see Fig. 2C) in the bottom surface 13 of the main body 10, and the connecting terminals 131 (see Fig. 2C) are electrically connected to the connected terminals 212. Next, as shown in FIG. 1, the fixed handle 223 in the raised position is tilted to lock the main body 10, thereby completing the attachment of the main body 10 to the cart 20.

[0024] [effect] As described above, the ultrasound diagnostic device 1 of this embodiment is an ultrasound diagnostic device including a main body 10 and a cart (cart) 20 to which the main body 10 can be attached or detached. The main body 10 includes a connection terminal 131 for electrically connecting to the cart 20, and a first surface (one surface) 11 is configured as a convex curved surface. The cart 20 includes a connection receiving terminal 212 to which the connection terminal 131 is connected, and an inner surface 221 that faces the first surface 11 when the main body 10 is attached is configured as a concave curved surface corresponding to the convex curved surface. When the main body 10 is attached to the cart 20 so that the convex curved surface (first surface 11) corresponds to the concave curved surface (inner surface 221), the connection terminal 131 is connected to the connection receiving terminal 212. Therefore, simply by attaching the main body 10 to the cart 20 so that the first surface 11 corresponds to the inner surface 221, the connection terminal 131 is connected to the connection terminal 212, making it possible to easily establish an electrical connection between the main body 10 and the cart 20.

[0025] The cart 20 also includes a main body guide portion (guide wall) 24 for guiding the convex curved surface (first surface 11) of the main body 10 to correspond to the concave curved surface (inner surface 221) of the cart 20. Therefore, by providing the main body guide portion 24, the electrical connection between the main body 10 and the cart 20 can be made easier.

[0026] Furthermore, the main body 10 is provided with a positioning hole 132, and the cart 20 is provided with a guide pin 213 to be inserted into the positioning hole 132 in the main body mounting portion (mounting surface) 21 on which the main body 10 is mounted. Therefore, by providing the main body mounting portion 21 with a guide pin 213 that is inserted into the positioning hole 132, it is possible to correct any deviation when attaching the main body 10 to the cart 20 so that the first surface 11 corresponds to the inner surface 221, thereby ensuring reliable electrical connection between the main body 10 and the cart 20.

[0027] The cart 20 also includes a fixed handle (locking member) 223 for locking the main body 10 attached to the cart 20. Therefore, by locking the main body 10 with the fixed handle 223, rattling of the main body 10 when the cart 20 is moved can be suppressed.

[0028] Furthermore, by electrically connecting the connection terminal 131 to the connected terminal 212, it becomes possible to input, for example, power from the main body 10 to the cart 20 and input an image signal related to an ultrasound image. It also becomes possible to input an operation signal (an operation signal based on the operation of an operation console 232 (described later)) from the cart 20 to the main body 10.

[0029] [others] The detailed configuration of each component constituting the ultrasound diagnostic device 1 can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0030] For example, in the above embodiment, as shown in Fig. 7, the main body mounting portion 21 may be provided with a positioning spacer 214 for guiding the main body 10 so that the first surface (convex curved surface) 11 of the main body 10 corresponds to the inner surface (concave curved surface) 221 of the support portion 22 of the cart 20. The positioning spacer 214 has a crescent shape in a plan view, and the curved portion is formed so as to correspond to the second surface 12 (see Fig. 2B) of the main body 10. This can make the electrical connection between the main body 10 and the cart 20 easier.

[0031] 8, an anti-slip sheet (e.g., anti-slip rubber) 224 may be provided on the inner surface (concave surface) 221 of the support column 22 of the cart 20. This makes it difficult for the main body 10 to slip when the main body 10 is attached to the cart 20 due to the anti-slip sheet 224, thereby further reducing rattling of the main body 10 when the cart 20 is moved.

[0032] In addition, in the above embodiment, for example, the first surface 11 of the main body 10 may form a concave curved surface, and the inner surface 221 of the support portion 22 of the cart 20 may form a convex curved surface corresponding to the concave curved surface. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1. Ultrasound diagnostic equipment 10. Ultrasound diagnostic device body 101 Gripping part 11 First Side 12 Second Side 13 Bottom 131 Connection terminal 132 Positioning hole 20 Cart Section (Cart) 21 Main body mounting section 211 Main body receiving surface 212 Connected terminal 213 Guide Pin 22 Pillar section 221 Inner surface 222 External surface 223 Fixed handle (locking member) 23 Workbench 24 Main body guide section (guide wall) 25 Caster part

Claims

1. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body and a carriage to which the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body can be attached and detached, The ultrasonic diagnostic device main body includes: a connection terminal for electrically connecting to the carriage; One surface is made up of a convex curved surface, The carriage is a connection terminal to which the connection terminal is connected, a surface facing the one surface when the ultrasound diagnostic device body is attached is configured as a concave curved surface corresponding to the convex curved surface, When the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus main body is attached to the cart so that the convex curved surface corresponds to the concave curved surface, the connecting terminal is connected to the connected terminal. An ultrasonic diagnostic device characterized by:

2. the carriage includes a guide wall for guiding the ultrasonic diagnostic device body so that the convex curved surface corresponds to the concave curved surface.

2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1.

3. The ultrasonic diagnostic device body is provided with a positioning hole, the carriage includes a mounting surface on which the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus body is placed, and the mounting surface includes a guide pin that is inserted into the positioning hole.

2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1.

4. the carriage includes a locking member that locks the ultrasound diagnostic apparatus body attached to the carriage.

2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1.

5. By electrically connecting the connecting terminal to the connected terminal, it becomes possible to at least supply power and input image signals from the ultrasound diagnostic device main body to the cart, and input operation signals from the cart to the ultrasound diagnostic device main body.

2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1.

6. the carriage includes a positioning spacer for guiding the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus body so that the convex curved surface corresponds to the concave curved surface.

2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1.

7. The cart has an anti-slip sheet provided on a surface opposite to the one surface.

2. The ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus according to claim 1.

8. An ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus comprising an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body and a carriage to which the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body can be attached and detached, The ultrasonic diagnostic device main body includes: a connection terminal for electrically connecting to the carriage; One surface is made up of a concave curved surface, The carriage is a connection terminal to which the connection terminal is connected, a surface facing the one surface when the ultrasonic diagnostic device main body is attached is configured as a convex curved surface corresponding to the concave curved surface, When the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus main body is attached to the cart so that the concave curved surface corresponds to the convex curved surface, the connecting terminal is connected to the connected terminal. An ultrasonic diagnostic device characterized by:

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Carriage for image diagnostic apparatus

    JP2010057887A